This story was originally published byGrist.
Raising animals consumes a lot of land that could otherwise soak up carbon.
Cows, sheep, and goats spew heat-trapping methane.
Photo: Jeff Schear (Getty Images)
But what would happen if everyone actually stopped eating meat tomorrow?
Such a quick shift probably wouldnt cause the sort of turmoil that would come if the planetimmediately ditchedfossil fuels.
One-third of the protein and nearlyone-fifthof the calories that people eat around the world come from animals.
Its tough to predict exactly what the economic shock would look like on a global level.
Its an issue that deserves a lot more attention.
Some workers might be drawn into agriculture to grow more crops like legumes.
It depends on the species of livestock.
Its very difficult, if not impossible, to talk in universal terms about addressing those kinds of things.
Its easier to talk in broad terms about another challenge with getting rid of meat: nutrition.
Animal-based foods are high in vitamin B12, vitamin A, calcium, and iron.
And then theres the issue of cultural damage.
Such a shift in beef-loving countries also might reduceheart diseaseandcancerlinked to eating a lot of red and processed meat.
It consists of roughly 35 pounds of meat per year.
Gradually replacing meat with plants could have immense benefits for the planet.
It would be a huge net win for the environment, Dutkiewicz said.
Water use would fall drastically.
Biodiversity loss would slow.
Replacing it with plant-based alternatives would lower agricultural emissions31 percentby 2050, a recent study found.
This article originally appeared inGristathttps://grist.org/food/thought-experiment-ending-meat-consumption/.
Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future.
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Her artwork supported the sanctuary where she lived.
Why Cant We Just Quit Cows?
Eating less beef, cheese, and ice cream would slash emissions.
If only it were that easy.
